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Dear friends,
I have been out so long that I almost forget how it is to use a computer.
After my stem cells treatment in Germany, in July, I decided to go to Cuba for intensive therapy.
It was my good intention to write down weekly my feelings, impressions and thoughts about my stay in Cuba but internet was very bad, I could not use my own computer and I gave up doing so.
After 9 hours on the plane I arrived on La Habana airport.
First impression: the pollution smell (not good) and lots of Cuban people at the airport.
I must say I was chocked with the people, the houses and the cars…
It’s another world, indeed.
During the first weeks the weather was quite difficult for me: hot and humid. Only during the last week I could be out of the air conditioning. Every other day there was a storm and was raining.
Besides all this, Cuba is a very beautiful country, very green with lovely trees that I have never seen before with strange tropical fruits (not edible), lizards with blue head and others with red tale.
I went to Varadero to spend one weekend and I found out a beautiful landscape and lovely beach and sea hot water.
There is a lot of things to see and to do in Havana but I couldn’t…I went twice to the old part of Havana but after 11h in the morning the heat was unbearable to me and I had to go away.
For tourists are very safe to live there. I haven’t see or heard of even one incident of aggression. Control is the word that applies to that system
Anyway, stress is not a feeling present in their lives.

My medical treatment

My plan was (and is) to try to improve a little bit and to stop the progression of MS.
My MS is very old and I know I can’t wait for big improvements but I have been told that it could reduce my fatigue, spasticity of my limbs and improve my bladder function with this experimental treatment.
I knew for a long time, that this clinic in Havana has a great experience on spinal cord injuries. Cubans believe in brain spasticity and they have a different approach to treat neurological diseases. I needed to go away, my life has been hard until now and MS so difficult to fight. So, I decided to go to Havana for 5 weeks.
The Ciren clinic is located outside Havana and not far away from the sea. It’s an area of the embassies houses and hotels (I think you can see the place using google earth).
After 1 week of tests, I have been told by Dr. Cabrera that I was a very healthy (besides MS) and intelligent woman.
This Doctor is a very knowingly and smart physician. My bad lesions are located in my spinal cord and that’s why I can’t walk. He told me that I had no strength in my body and I needed some “repair”. Dr.Cabrera believed that the stem cells treatment that I have done in Germany and then the treatment in Cuba could help me in so how.
The treatment consisted of 4 weeks of intensive physical therapy. The medical team was composed by the Doctor, nurses and rehabilitators.
I had to get up at 6h every morning, shower and breakfast, had medical team visit at 8h in my room and then had to go to therapy.
The nurses never had work with me because I was ok. The physical therapy team had all the work to do.
Between 8h and 12h therapy, lunch at 12h and then had to return at 14h for more therapy until 17h00.
This was my schedule everyday and on Saturdays until 12h.
As you can imagine I was exhausted by the end of the day.
In conclusion, after 4 weeks I lost 2 kg, increased my muscle mass, have more strength in my body and the doctor said that I should return after 6 months and that I should consider having another stem cells treatment.
So, that’s my “report”! After 3 months of the stem cells treatment and 5 weeks in Cuba I can say that my improvements are:
-less fatigue
-less spasticity (no neurontin pills)
-better bladder function

Still can’t walk, though. I have learned that it’s not because of my legs and knees but mainly because of the spasticity of my hip!
I have to think what I’m going to do next. I hope all of you are well and in a good mood.
Big Kiss
Teresa

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